A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1146: Give It Your All!

Permitting an escape route is akin to releasing a tiger back into the mountains, sowing seeds for future calamities.Who can foretell the extent of the ensuing turmoil?And how much military might will be required to suppress it?

"No, General! If we open the egress, all our efforts will be rendered futile!!"

A chorus of soldiers voiced their dissent from below."Indeed, General, we should annihilate these Western Xia curs instead!""Precisely! We have toiled so diligently to ensnare them within this fiery ring. How can we possibly release them so readily!"

"Annihilate them! Annihilate them!"

The soldiers erupted in protest, one after another.Yang Chenyi swiveled his head in anger, bellowing,"Silence, all of you, and observe who is being held hostage?!"

"It is your very own General Ye!"

Ye Tang had previously served within the Ministry of War, dedicating many years under Yang He's tutelage.Despite her gender, she possessed a forthright and uninhibited nature, always displaying deep care for the soldiers under her command.During the Battle of Guangnan,She served as Commander Xia’s personal guard, displaying no airs, sharing their provisions and living quarters as an equal.

Her demeanor was bold and magnanimous, her combat prowess unmatched; she was invariably the first to charge into the fray, absorbing the peril herself while bestowing the hope of survival upon others.Having served in the Ministry of War for an extended period,And with Yang He, the current commander, bringing along his trusted confidantes,

Most among them were acquainted with Ye Tang, and many maintained a cordial relationship with her.A considerable number had also benefited from Ye Tang’s patronage, some even owing her their lives.With old comrades and benefactors standing before them, the notion of condemning her to execution was simply too cruel to contemplate.

After exchanging glances, all heads bowed in silent contemplation.What path to choose?Such a decision presented an unbearable cruelty, regardless of the outcome.Let the General make the ultimate decree!

"Cease your dithering and act with haste!""Xia Tingfeng, bear in mind the promise you made to me!""All of you, make your move swiftly!"

Hai Tang suddenly cried out, her voice slicing through the air with an irrefutable undercurrent of threat.The encircling flames intensified, the pincer tightened, and the escape route dwindled.Should they continue to deliberate, even the forces of the Great Chu Dynasty risked becoming trapped here.

So many souls.So many individuals who had shown her kindness.So many brothers-in-arms from bygone days.Their lives were not worth sacrificing for her alone!

If her demise could secure the chance of survival for all the others, what remained to be hesitated about?To have these Western Xia dogs as her funerary escorts was already more than sufficient compensation.

Father, brother, I entrust you now to Brother Xia; he will undoubtedly see to your well-being.Your daughter is stepping forth now!

Hai Tang subtly shifted her wrist, revealing a diminutive, razor-edged Hidden Knife concealed within her left sleeve.The blade, already envenomed, emanated a faint verdant luminescence.A single thrust, a severed throat, painless and traceless, a swift and dignified end.

Ever since her solitary infiltration into the Western Xia encampment,This small blade had been her constant companion.It was prepared for the moment of discovery, to facilitate a swift departure from life.Unexpectedly...

Its use arrived so soon.But thankfully, her end would not be in vain.She had preserved so many lives; this was indeed a magnificent gain!

The firestorm raged on, distant clashes echoed, and a chill wind swept through, igniting dry branches on the mountainside and nearby terrain, their crackling a stark contrast.Amidst the pandemonium of battle and the cacophony of sounds, her subtle movements went entirely unnoticed.Hai Tang slowly, deliberately, raised her arm towards her heart.

With resolute will, she initiated a concealed action.Just as the blade was poised to pierce her chest,A wave of numbness coursed through her wrist, her hand, wielding the knife, instinctively went limp, releasing its grip.

The poisoned dagger clattered to the ground, her hands now bare.In that instant,She stared at her empty hands, bewildered, unable to process the event.Hai Situ’s keen eyes had not missed her discreet maneuver.

He swiftly spun Hai Tang around with his formidable saber, bellowing with rage,"Scoundrels of the Chu Dynasty!""You practice deceit, resorting to underhanded tactics!""If you possess the courage, face us in honorable combat!"

Hai Xiangjin, sensing a disturbance, surged forward and struck him."Nonsense!""We desire to live, both I and the soldiers!""You must safeguard the hostage diligently!"

He then seized Hai Tang from Hai Situ's grasp.At this precise moment,A hail of poisoned silver needles, mingled with other concealed weaponry, arced towards Hai Xiangjin and Hai Situ.

Detecting the whistling projectiles, they hastily raised their blades for defense, simultaneously diverting their attention to shield the hostage, thus sowing disarray.Soldiers in their vicinity and behind them were struck by the hidden projectiles, cries erupting as they fell.The soldiers in the rear, unaware of the unfolding chaos, scrambled to evade.

Thus, the confusion rippled outwards, escalating the turmoil within their ranks.As refined as Xia Tingfeng, as astute as Xia Tingfeng, as decisive as Xia Tingfeng.

A breach in the enemy’s formidable defenses was finally created, offering Hai Tang a slim chance of survival.

’Swoosh, swoosh.’

Two silver arrows, cutting through the howling wind, hurtled towards the vital points of Hai Xiangjin and Hai Situ.

Instantly, like a flash of lightning, like the cry of cranes carried on the breeze.

The suddenness of the two arrows caught everyone completely unprepared.

In the blink of an eye.

Hai Tang felt the fabric of her sleeve seized by two delicate threads, pulling her upwards with immense strength.

She was whisked away towards the encampment of the Great Chu Dynasty.

Before she could even process what was happening, she found herself landing upon Xia Tingfeng’s horse.

Though she narrowly avoided being trampled, her position atop the horse was less than elegant.

Nevertheless, her rescue was secured, and a collective sigh of relief swept through the onlookers.

With the immediate danger averted, Xia Tingfeng finally issued his commands.

"My army, heed my order!!"

"All forces, commence withdrawal and seal the exit!"

"Maintain order from front to back; any disruption will result in immediate execution!!"

"Speed is paramount, ensure those Western Xia curs are engulfed in the ring of fire!"

These commands struck the soldiers’ hearts, spurring them into action.

They immediately adhered to the pre-established battle plans, resuming their positions and executing an orderly retreat from the encirclement.

Hai Xiangjin was overcome with a sense of utter desperation.

The arrows were one thing.

But he simply could not comprehend the tactic of a 'hostage suddenly flying from one's grasp'.

This was due to the enemy being positioned with the fire at their backs, while he was directly facing it.

His opponents had a clear view of his every move, yet he remained in the dark regarding their actions.

He was completely unaware of Xia Tingfeng's strategies.

Even less could he have predicted such a maneuver.

With his army engaged in fierce combat, swords clashing against enemies.

The opposing commander deployed numerous perplexing hidden weapons.

Furthermore, Western Xia held pride in their straightforward swordsmanship, disdaining the use of hidden weapons and poisons.

Consequently...

Gazing at his empty hands, a considerable amount of time passed before he could collect his thoughts.

He had been outsmarted by hidden weapons, a victim of the enemy's cunning ploy.

Amidst the thunder and flames, the storm and the fury.

Hai Xiangjin, consumed by rage, let out a furious roar.

"You scoundrels of the Chu Dynasty, do not dare to flee!"

"Pursue them! Chase them to their deaths!"

"Fight, for there remains a path to survival; to yield means certain demise!"

"Fight with every ounce of your being!"